Monthly Archives: October 2017

1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made him a little lower than heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds in the air,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8 NIV)

This psalm, penned by David, fortells Christ our Redeemer. Hebrews Chapter 1, quotes the prophetic the words in Psalm 8, concerning God’s created beings crowned with glory. They will rule over creation and praise the Lord God forever. Psalm 8 exudes the majesty of our Lord God Almighty from beginning to end.

His Name is Known

Commentators * say “how majestic is your name” refers to the name made known particularly in the gospels. God’s faithfulness in sending Jesus, fulfills the law. David wrote prophetically of New Testament times.

Additionally, the Lord prophesied through Malachi saying. . . “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 1:11 NIV).

Throughout Creation

It is generally thought that David composed this psalm in the night, when the stars and celestial bodies were in view. I know you’ve seen them—indeed they are worthy of contemplation. Look up to the night sky and observe God’s power and greatness in a grand scale.

God Cares

The psalmist queries God, “Why is it possible that you care about mankind?” Yes, God cares so much that he sent his son to die for us. Too often miss this blessing in our daily grind. Psalm 8 exudes the majesty of our Lord God Almighty from beginning to end.

Prayer: Father, I know you bestow blessing upon blessing on me. Thank you. I praise you.

In Your Bible: Psalm 13
“For the director of music or the chief musician”
This directive appears in only 55 psalms. It charges the director of music to bring powerful, exuberant and vigorous songs of praise to the Lord in the worship gathering.

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me (Psalm 13 NIV).

In this brief Psalm, David shows the depth of his despondency and the height of his confidence. * It’s God’s plan that we should delight ourselves in him alone and know that his mercy is available to all who come to him. As we pass through difficult times, we must remember to trust in his unfailing mercy.

When Trials Come

First, David pours his heart out to the Lord. He declares he’s been forgotten by God, suffered defeat by his enemies, and struggled mentally over this situation. To him it must have seemed to have been a very long time. We too should pour our heart out to God when we’re down. That’s what he wants.

Trust in Him

In the last two verses, David shouts [my impression] he will trust in the unfailing love of God. Then he sings and rejoices for God’s goodness to him [perhaps he dances too]. Yes, we too can sing and praise God as we trust in his unfailing mercy.

Prayer: Father, I need your mercy and love daily. I praise you for bringing joy to me in my high and low times. Selah.

You probably have heard the first verse of Psalm 67 as a doxology at the end of a church service. The entire Psalm is uplifting for the believer. Some Bible commentators* say this prophecy tells what God plans to do for all nations through Jesus Christ. To him be glory, majesty, and dominion forever.

Merciful God

God be merciful to us and bless us (Psalm 67:1a NKJV).

The first link in the chain of mercies that believers receive is forgiveness of sin. Therefore, it’s the foundational attribute in salvation. The plea, addressed to the God of mercy, implies the death of all legal hopes or claims of merit. Yes, salvation is the best gift from our eternal God. Selah.

It would be difficult to ascribe this psalm to anyone except David, who makes his plea for believers (“us” instead of me). Because it is prophetic,
it is a prayer for Israel and spiritually a prayer for the Christian church.

Face to Shine on Us

And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah (Psalm 67:1b NKJV).

As God grants us his presence, we embrace and discover his love, come into communion with him through Jesus Christ, and grow in grace with him. He will cause his face to shine upon us. To him be glory, majesty, and dominion forever.

Prayer: Father, what a wonder you are. You are a blaze of glory. I long to see you face to face.

In a second postscript to his letter to the Romans, * Paul declares that God’s message is for the Gentiles. This mystery had been hidden for ages. God must receive the praise and glory for making salvation available to all who believe.

Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen (Romans 16:25-27 NLT).

God’s Plan

If this doxology sounds familiar to several already studied, it is, or should be. The remarkable point remains that God’s plan was to bring in the Gentiles all along. The mystery of Jesus Christ, is the message brought by all disciples to ALL who would receive it.

Obey

Paul clarifies that believers are not only to receive Jesus as Lord but submit to him and obey his instructions. That’s a requirement we too often miss when we receive the salvation message.

However, God’s demand for obedience is “front and center” as we read and digest the Ten Commandments given to Moses. Then when we read and ponder Jesus’ teachings on obedience, we see he lived it!

Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with confident wording about the only God being the only true wise One who will receive glory forever through Jesus the Christ. Alleluia. God must receive the praise and glory for making salvation available to all who believe.

Prayer: Father, I praise you for sending Jesus the Christ, the Messiah to all who would believe. To you be honor and glory forever.

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In Your Bible: Ephesians 3:20,21

Paul reveals an amazing truth after one of his prayers for the Ephesians. The God of all power chooses to work with, through and in believers. We may not even notice it when this happens! God works within the believer to save mankind, to build his Kingdom—all for his glory.

Gently Within Us

In this doxology, we praise him because he chooses to work through us in a gentle manner, guiding believers to accomplish his plans. God combines his Spirit with the believers’ spirit to create wonder-working power. Selah.

Ponder Eugene Peterson’s words in the Message: God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us (Ephesians 3:20 MSG).

Glory to God

At the conclusion of this doxology, come beautiful succinct words: May he [God] be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:21 The Living Bible). Again, much to ponder here! Selah.

What an amazing God we serve. This doxology has a wonderful truism. God works within the believer to save mankind, to build his Kingdom—all for his glory.

Prayer: Father, thank you for gently working in me. My praise for you is continually on my lips.